“In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor” (Luke 6:12-16 ESV).
This is one of those critical next-steps in Jesus’ story: the selection of a small group to mentor, invest in, and equip so that the story can carry on after Jesus ascends to the Father’s right hand. Isn’t choosing someone for an important task always a bit unsettling? You have to choose a new doctor, a new dentist, a new insurance agent, a new babysitter, a new preacher, a new secretary, a new teacher, a new investment broker. It is a difficult task because those we choose end up handling very important things for us.
Because of this, Jesus precedes his selection of the Twelve with supplication for the Twelve. Two things characterize his prayer. First, its place: “the mountain.” Jesus chooses an isolated and quiet place. Second, its persistence: “all night he continued in prayer.” Jesus prays all night long.
As you consider the next big thing for Highland, consider both of these things: place and persistence. Find an isolated place. And devote significant time to prayer.
